| CLINAMENAUDIO.COM - Clinamenaudio

Pricing Policy and Technical Support

Price Genesis at Clinamenaudio

Clinamenaudio was born as both a technological and idealistic project, focused on crafting home music reproduction equipment capable of delivering an emotional engagement as close as possible to a live event.

Unlike many companies in the industry, Clinamenaudio did not start with a commercial product catalog, but as an applied research laboratory dedicated to music reproduction. The components represent the concrete expression of a continuously evolving design process: some are refined and reoffered over time, others remain unrepeatable creations, while others serve as stepping stones toward future solutions.

For this reason, the website distinguishes between historical creations, currently available items, experimental projects, and technical services. The goal is not to offer a static commercial range, but to provide access to the research, development, and craftsmanship taking place inside the workshop.

Operating outside rigid industrial frameworks allows for profound design freedom. Technical decisions are not driven by market trends, but solely by consistency with the desired sonic outcome. Industrial logic requires compromises tied to production volumes, distribution networks, and economic scalability. By operating beyond these constraints, Clinamenaudio can pursue solutions stemming exclusively from allegiance to sound quality.

The Clinamenaudio approach is therefore deliberately counter-current: the project begins first as an inquiry into reproduced musical language, and only secondarily as an economic activity. Historical techniques, when deemed effective, are revived and integrated with contemporary materials and processes. Annual production is intentionally limited, catering to discerning enthusiasts seeking a direct, conscious relationship with the object, its creator, and its musical significance.

Acquiring a Clinamenaudio component is not purchasing a mass-produced industrial product, but gaining access to a synthesis of knowledge, experience, and solutions refined over time and condensed into a specific creation a precise equilibrium reached at a given moment along the journey of the Natural Way.

The framework is entirely artisan. There are no assembly lines or batch manufacturing: every creation is treated as a unique piece. Design, development, and construction are personally overseen by the founder, Stefano Buttafoco, through every single phase—circuit topology, component selection, metalwork and woodwork, aesthetic and functional optimization, and iterative listening sessions. This vertical control enables a fine-tuning comparable to tuning an acoustic instrument.

Such an operational model is structurally incompatible with mass-production organizations: the high proportion of specialized hand labor, combined with conventional marketing and distribution markups, would drive final retail prices to significantly higher levels.

To keep the final price as closely aligned as possible with the actual value of the object, Clinamenaudio adopts two structural choices:

Direct distribution : elimination of intermediary markups
Minimal to zero investment in paid advertising, prioritizing organic growth through the user community

Pricing Determination follows a linear model:

\text{Final Price} = \text{Materials} + \text{Labor} + \text{R\&D / Design Activities}

The absence of redundant fees or commercial markups leads to a fixed price policy. The stated price is the real price, not subject to discounts or negotiations. Every customer receives the exact same conditions, and the economic value corresponds directly to the intrinsic value of the object—both as a physical craft and an intellectual work.

Regarding Shipping

The shipping of equipment and components is always handled using adequate packaging, specifically engineered to minimize any mechanical risk during transit. Nevertheless, physical transport via courier remains an external phase beyond my direct control.

For this reason, insured shipping is always recommended—and, for high-value items, strongly advised. Insurance represents the only effective economic protection in the event of loss or damage during transport. In the absence of insurance coverage, any issues attributable to the carrier cannot fall under my responsibility.

Technical Support and Second-Hand Sales Policy

Clinamen is a small-scale, high-end artisan workshop in which every single component is designed, engineered and handcrafted. To ensure the highest standards of workmanship and reliable delivery times, technical support is provided according to the following transparent guidelines.

Direct Customers --> I provide direct, priority assistance via email and telephone to all customers who purchase NEW Clinamenaudio components.

Private Sales of Second-Hand Equipment --> Clinamen products are built to stand the test of time. However, equipment that has been in service for many years may have undergone unauthorised technical modifications and/or may require routine servicing and adjustment. Private sales of second-hand Clinamenaudio equipment take place beyond my direct control. For these reasons, I would like to clarify the following:

Technical Consultations and Advice: I do not provide extended consultations, advice on system matching with third-party audio equipment, or ongoing telephone support for second-hand Clinamenaudio products. Consulting services can, of course, be arranged by prior agreement according to a defined scope of work. A fee will apply, which the customer may review and decide whether to accept.

Workshop Inspections and Servicing: Given the complexity, weight and value of Clinamenaudio equipment, any inspection, calibration or restoration work is carried out exclusively by scheduled appointment and subject to a formal agreement. Acceptance of equipment for bench testing and evaluation is subject to a diagnostic and quotation fee (€50 for SUTs; €150 for electronic equipment and loudspeakers). Shipping costs in both directions are borne by the customer.

For heavy or particularly valuable equipment, I recommend personal delivery or the use of a reputable, fully insured courier.

The quotation fee will be credited towards the cost of the work if the customer decides to proceed with the servicing or upgrade.